Combination lock



Feb. 6, 1940. EBER 2,189,342

COMBINATION LOCK Filed July 22, 1939 /Z I wxx INVENTOR M 5 10.. LACK E BER & r 241 401041 W m Z ATTORN Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES COMBINATION LOCK Jack Eber, Bronx, N. Y.

Application July 22, 1939, Serial No. 285,831

17 Claims. (01.70-31.25

This invention relates to lock structures of the combination type adapted for the uniting and locking of a plurality of adjacent supporting members and particularly to lock structures wherein the separate locking members are in pivotal hinge-like engagement when in operative position; and the object of the invention is to provide a lock structure of the class described comprising a plurality of interfitting lock members having a lock element in slidable engagement therewith adapted in one position to retain said lock members in positive engagementand in another posi tion to permit free separation and attachment of the lock members; a further object being to provide, in a lock structure of the class described having a slidable lock element for securing opposed lock members, a plurality of rotatable control members on said lock element having means cooperatingwith projecting means ,on said lock element for controlling the slidable movement of the locking element; another object being to provide, in a lock structure including rotatable control members cooperating with a slidable "loci: element, adjustable means within" said rotatable members for selectively varying the relative positions in'which said rotatable members cooperate with said lock element; a still further object being to provide means on rotatable control members of the class described for accurately alining -the same in accordance with the predetermined adjustment thereof to cooperate with a slidable lock element, andwith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in'a device of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part. in Whichthe separate parts of my invention are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of onejform of my improved lock shown partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a view substantially. on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 indicating one mode of attachment of the lock to a support.

Fig. 3 is a view substantially onthe line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of rotatable control member detached.

form of Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of my slidable lock element detached. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the lock ture shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a modified form of lock made according to my invention, and r Fig. 10 is a view substantially on the line I0 0 of Fig. 9.

In many instances where it is desirable to join and lock together adjacent, abutting or overlap .strucping members, it has heretofore been impossible to attain the desired result in a simple, practical and economical manner, audit is the object of myinvention to provide a unitary coupling and locking device which will answer this purpose and which is simple and economical in construction. My improved lock is adapted especially for use on luggage and similar containers, and whenused on such articles the int'erengaging lock members may both be fixedly secured to adjacent supporting surfaces of the article or'the structural fea tures may be incorporated ina modified hasp con-H struction wherein one of theinterengaging lock members is movable with respect to its support. It will be understood, however, that my improved lock construction is readily adaptable for many other uses not only for locking various types of closure members but also for securing together any adjacent or abutting members to preventundesirable separation thereof. In this connection as will subsequently be more clearly brought out, the lock members of my improved device when in operative position are pivotally joined by a lock element, thereby providing for pivotal hingelike movement of thelock members together with the supports.

In the drawing, I have shown my improved lock structure including two distinct forms thereof in substantially the size and proportion which might be used on articles of luggage. It will be under-- stood, however, that this showing is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to in way limit the use and application of my invention to articles of luggage. i

In Figs. 1 to '7 of the drawing, I have shown my improved look as comprising a pair of interfitting lock members I ll and l I arranged for purposes of illustration on suitable support members l2, l3, and secured thereto by suitable means as indicated by the rivets l4. The lock member In is provided at opposed ends of one edge portion thereof with enlarged bearings l5, l6; and is further provided intermediate the bearings l5, IS with spaced pairs of narrow bearing projections ll, Ila, The pairs of bearing projections 11, [1a

I so

are equally spaced from each other and from the bearings 15 and [6 providing for the arrangement of a plurality of bearing portions i 8 on the opposed lock member l I in alinement with the-bearings of the lock member Iii as will be clearly apparent.

Arranged within the alined bearings I5, I Bis a transversely slidable lock element 19 which is clearly shown detached in Fig. 7. The lock element It comprises a series of spaced cylindrical bearings of uniform diameter, the central bearings 2!! being also of uniform length while the end bearings 28a and 20b need not correspond in side openings 23 in the bearing portions l3.

Movement of the lock element l9 transversely of the lock members It! and It into the other or locked position as shown in Fig. 1 will dispose at least a portion of the cylindrical bearings 2!! within the bearing portions 18 preventing subsequent separation of the lock members ill and H throng: the openings 23.

As control members for the lock. element 19, I have shown a plurality of rotatable cylindrical members 24 having adjustable bushings or bearing portions 25 centrally thereof. The bushing 25 as well as each of the bearing portions l6, H, and Ho are provided with transverse Lgrooves or notches 26 adapted to receive projection -members 21 on the cylindricalbearing 2i) and another projection member 21a on the bearing 29a. It will be apparent that the projections 21, 21a. are in common alinement as are the grooves 26 in the bearing portions l6, l1 and Ila. In the locked position of the lock element 49 asyseen in Fig. l. of the drawing, the projections 2'! are disposed within the grooves 28 of the bearing portions Ha and it will be apparent that in order to move the lock element into unlocked position the control members 2 1 must be rotatably adjusted'so that the grooves 26 in each of these members is in alinementwith the grooves of the bearings l6, ll and Ila. When these are properly alined the lock element 19 may be freely moved into position toaline the reduced portions 2?. thereof with the openings 23 in the bearin s l8 thereby permitting separation of the lock members. It will also be noted that when the lock element is in this position the projections 27 retain the control members 24 against rotary movement. In the construction of the control member 24, as seen in Fig. 4 or the drawing, the bushing 25' is fixedly supported within the body of the control member, and it will be apparent when a projection 2? is in engagement with the groove 26 the body of the control member 24 may be forcibly rotatedabout the bushing 25. It will be apparent, therefore, that the relative position'of the groove 25 with respect to the various numerals and other insignia 28 may be changed. in other words, the setting or combination of the lock may be adjusted at will by the user.

It will further be apparent, however, that in some instances it may be undesirable to have the control members 24 retained in operative alinem'ent when the lock element is in the open position since this would enable a person or intruder to discover the combination of the look. If the combination were not changed as previously described, When the look was next'used the intruder would then be able to readily operate the lock as will be apparent. As a modified form of construction adapted to obviatethis difficulty, I have shown in Figs. 5 and 6' a control member 26a and a bushing iiea. The control member 2 5a is provided with a plurality of numorals or other insignia 28a and a corresponding number of grooves or notches 29 adapted to selectively receive a projecting member or tooth 30 on the bushing 25a. The bushing 25a is preferably of solid or continuous structure having a transverse notch 26a on the inner surface thereof adapted to receive the projections 27 of the lock element. It will be apparent, as seen in 5 of the drawing, that thetooth 38 may be ar-- ranged on the bushing 250: in a position with respect to the notch 2641 so that in adjusting the control member 24 the tooth 38 maybe alined with the desired numeral or insignia 23a. It should: be noted in this connection that in makingadjustments of the setting when this modified construction is employed, the lock element must first be removed from the lock member in and for this purpose the loci; element 89 is provided with a removable end portion iii. The removable end portion 3! will permit withdrawal of the lock element, however, only when the control members are in registering unlocked position. I

As seen in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the tooth or projection 35} on the bushing 25a is preferably arranged centrally of the bushing to insure complete enclosure of the tooth by the control member. The bushingflfia is further provided on the inner surface thereof with an annular groove 32 equal in depth to the depth of the groove 26a andregistering with said groove. When a bushing of this type is employed slightly greater transverse movement of the loci: element 59 may be provided permitting the projections 2'! on the lock element to register with the groove 32 in each of the control members, when the lock clement is in unlocked position. This. will provide. for the rotary movement of the control Poem-- bers, and it will be apparent that the setting of the control members may, therefore, be changed and. the combination destroyed as' soon the control members have performed their intended function of permitting operative movement of the lock element. g I

The periphery of each control member 24, 24a is preferably provided with a series of grooves or notches 33, 33a intermediate the successive numorals or insignia 28. These notches are in turn operatively engaged by suitable spring members 34 secured to the underside of the lockmember it. The spring members preferably permit rotary movement in one direction while prevent ing rotary movement in opposed direction; th

importantfimction being to properly aline the numerals or insignia 23 by positive engagement of the spring members with the grooves 33, 33a.

As a further aid in properly alining the numerals an indicating means, such for example as the arrow, seen at 35 in Fig. 1, is provided on one or both of the bearings 95, l6. 7

In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawing, I have shown a slightly modified form of construction including loci; members 10a, Ha, a lock element (9a and control members 24a. The construction of the parts in this modified form of lock corretary body having the desired arrangement of the to a hinge plate 31 which in turn may be secured to the surface of a desired support. The openings 23a in the bearing portions l8a of the hinge member Ha differ from the openings 23 in the previously described construction in that they are arranged to permit disengagement of the lock members by the swinging movement of the I lock member Ila. In other words, the line of motion in coupling and uncoupling the lock members shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is substantially at right angles to the line of motion in the simi-' lar operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will of course be apparent that any other direction of movement might be provided by suitably arranging. the openings 23a on the lock member Ha to facilitate joining and locking to- .gether adjacent members having predetermined angularly arranged surfaces.

As shown in Figs. lock member Ha corresponds to a hasp such as is normally used on articles of luggage, and it will be apparent in this connection that a spring 38 is preferably included in the pivot portion 36 to provide for the automatic disengagement of the lock members when the lock element 19 is moved into the unlocked position. i

When the lock members of my improved device are inoperative engagement, it will be apparent that the members are in reality pivotally coupled by the lock element and in effect the lock members are adapted to function as hinge butts pivotally movable about the lock element as a pintle. This feature readily adapts my device for use as more than a mere means for locking together adjacent or abutting supports. By way of illustration, it will be apparent that one or more of my devices may be employed as hinges on closure members having other lockingmeans thereon. A closure member equipped with my devices as hinges could then be opened by the party knowing the lock combination in emergencies such for ex ample as the loss of a key to the conventional lock means for the closure. The particular uses to which my improved lock and hinge device can be put are too numerous to mention. It should be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the particular adaptations above mentioned but may employ my improved struc ture wherever the circumstances would make its use practical.

The various parts of my device maybe fashioned by any of the conventional forming and machining methods and any suitable materials may be used to give the required strength and properties to the device. The control members 24, 24a may, of course, be fashioned from a unigroove 26 or the groove 26a and 32 therein. The construction as shown in the drawing, however. is probably more practical from a commercial standpoint since with each of the modifications a standard body portion for the control member may be formed as well as a standard bushing. and the adjustment of the control member may then be obtained by assembling the two parts in the desired manner. Forming the control members as unitary bodies on the other hand would necessitate the making of a different control member to correspond with each of the different numerals or insignia 28, 28a. A further advan tageous feature of the two part construction is 9 and 10 of the drawing, the

that metallic wear-resisting material .may be employed for the bushing whereas the body portion of the control member may be fashioned from suitable plastic material. The wide range of colors obtainable in the plastic materials would provide for the enhanced appearance of the look as well as making the numerals or insignia more legible.

It should also be noted that any number of control members 24, 24a may be employed, and it will further be apparent that each of the eontrol members may have any desired number of numerals or other insignia. 28; For example'in a more complicated lock, letters or other symbols could be employed at 28 to provide a number of indicating panels greatly in excess of the ten panels shown in the drawing. In such a constructionymeans would of course be provided for selectively adjusting thebushing and alining the same with the desired indicating panel.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. In a combination lock including opposed lock members and a lock element having limited transverse slidable movement with respect'to said members into two terminal positions, said lock element being adapted in one terminal position thereof to secure the lock members together, 3

while in the other terminal position thereof permitting free coupling and uncoupling of the lock members, means rotatably mounted on said lock element for regulating the transverse moveof said element, and said last named means com-- prising control members having transverse grooves adapted thereof to fall in alinement with corresponding grooves in one of said lock members.

3. In a combination lock including opposed lock members and a lock element having limited transverse slidable movement with respect to in predetermined positions said members into two terminal positions, said lock element being adapted in one terminal position thereof to secure the lock members together.

mitting free coupling and uncoupling of the lock members, means rotatably mounted on said lock element for-regulating the transverse movement of said element, said last named means comprising control members having transverse grooves adapted in predetermined positions thereof to fall in alinement with corresponding grooves in one of said lock members, and projecting members in longitudinal alinement on said lock element registering with'said grooves.

4. A look device including opposed lock members having interfitting bearing portions, a lock element slidably movable through said bearings, said lock element being supported by one of said lock members and having reduced portions at longitudinally spaced intervals adapted in one position of said lock element to register with reduced openings in the bearings of the opposed lock member thereby facilitating separation of t5- while in the other terminal position thereof per- I said lock member's, movable control means spaced longitudinally of said first named lock member and registering with said lock element intermediate the reduced portions thereof, and cooperating means on said control means and registering portions of said lock element providing for slight movement of said lock element in predetermined positions only of said movable control means.

v 'permit slidable movement of said lock element.

automatically separate in hasp-like fashion, when members rotatably supported on said lock element intermediate said reduced portions and adapted in predetermined positions thereof .to

6. A lock device including opposed lock mem- ,1 bers having mounting portions and interfitting bearing portions, a lock element slidably movable through said bearings, said lock element being supported by one of said lock members and having reduced portions at longitudinally spaced in- ;tervals adapted in one position of said lock element to register with reduced openings in the bearings of the opposed lock members thereby facilitating separation of said lock members, a plurality of control members rotatably supported .on said lock element intermediate said reduced portions and adapted in, predetermined positions thereof to permit slidable movement of said lock element and the location of the reduced openings in the bearings of said last named lock member controlling the direction of separation of said members.

7. A combination lock of the class described comprising opposed lock members having interfitting bearing portions with a slidable lock element arranged transversely of said bearingportions and adapted in one position only thereof to permit separation of said lock members, rotatable combination wheels on said lock'element for controlling the transverse movement thereof,

H one of said lock members supporting said lock element and combination wheels being fixedly,

secured to a support, and the other of said lock members being pivotally secured to an opposed support through a hinge and attaching plate.

8. A combination lock of the class described comprising opposed lock members having interfitting bearing portions with a slidable lock element arranged transversely of said bearing portions and adapted in one position only thereof 60,

to permit separation of said lock members, rotatable combination wheels on said lock element for controlling the transverse movement thereof, one

of said lock members supporting said lock olement and wheels being fixedly secured to a support, and the other of said lock members being pivotally secured to an opposed support through a hinge and attaching plate, and said hinge including a spring normally urging said pivoted lock member out of engagement with the first named lock member whereby said lock members will the lock element is moved to the unlocked position.

9. A combination control wheel for a lock of the class described, said lock including opposed lock members having interfitting bearing portions detachably coupled by a slidable lock element, said wheel having a plurality of difierent characterized panels adapted to be alined with indicating means on one of said lock members, transversely grooved means at the inner bearing portion of said wheel cooperating with predetermined projections on said lock element permitting transverse movement of said lock element in one position only of said wheel with respect to said element, said grooved means comprising an independent bushing arranged in said wheel, said bushing having a tooth on the periphery thereof, said tooth being interchangeably arrangeable in a plurality of notches formed in said Wheel and corresponding with the characterized panels thereon, the groove in said bushing being positioned with respect to said tooth so as to provide for the operable adjustment of said groove when a predetermined panel is properly alined with said indicating means, and said bushing having an annular internal groove registering with the transverse groove therein and adapted to register with the projections on saidlock element thereby permitting rotary movement of said control wheel when the lock element is in the unlocked position.

10. In a combination lock including opposed lock members having interfitting bearing portions coupled by a slidable lock element detachable in one position only of said element, projecting means on said element cooperating with grooves in the bearing portions of one of said members for preventing rotation of said lock element, a plurality of control wheels rotatably supported on said lock element intermediate spaced pairs of the bearing portions of said member, and said wheels having transverse grooves adapted when properly alined with respect to the grooves in said loclrmember to permit transverse slidable movement of said lock element.

11. In a combination lock including opposed lock members having interfitting bearing portions coupled by a slidable lock element detachable in one position only of said element, project- 7 ing means on said element cooperating with grooves in the bearing portions of one of said members for preventing rotation of said lock element, a plurality of control wheels rotatably supported on said lock element, said Wheels having transverse grooves adapted when properly alined with respect to the grooves in said lock member to permit transverse slidable movement of said lock element, and said wheels having annular grooves registering with said transverse grooves permitting free rotary movement of said wheels when the lock element is in the unlocked as Well as the locked position.

,12. In a combination lock including opposed lock members having interfitting bearing portions coupled by a slidable lock element detachable'in one position only of said element, projecting means on said element cooperating with grooves in the bearing portions of one of said members for preventing rotation of said lock element, a plurality of control wheels rotatably supported on said loclc element, said wheels having transverse grooves adapted when properly alined with respect to the grooves in said loci; member to permit transverse slidable movement of said lock element, said wheels having annular grooves registering with said transverse grooves permitting free rotary movement of said wheels when the lock element is in the unlocked as well as the locked position, and the grooves in said wheels being formed in independent bushings detachably supported in different positions of rotary adjustment with respect to indicating panels formed on the periphery of said wheels. x

13. A combination controlled mechanism of the class described for joining opposedmembers, said mechanism including a plurality of protruding partson one of said members, a lock'element? slidable in said parts, combination control means i on said lockelement adapted in predetermined,

1 positions only thereof to permit movement of said element, protruding means on the other of said members interfit'ting with said protruding parts of the first named lock member and reg istering withsaid lock element, and cooperating means on said last named protruding means and lock element providing for coupling and uncoupling of said, lock members in the unlocked posi tion only of said element.

1 4.A combination lock of the character de-ZY scribed comprising an elongated lock element,

movable longitudinally of its axis, a pair of lock members having parts spaced longitudinally of said element, said lock element being supported against displacement from said part of one lock member and operatively engaging said part of the other lock member in the'movement thereof, said lock element being adapted in one position only of adjustment to provide separation of said parts transversely to the axis of said element, and means supported on said lock element and movable with respect thereto for controlling the j separation of said parts.

15. Acombination lock of the character described comprising an elongated lock elementfl movable longitudinally of its axis, a pair of lock membersfhaving parts spaced"longitudinally of said element, said lock element being supported against displacement from said part of one look V gaged by said element in retaining said members, against separation, ahplurality of rotatably ad ment into open position to lock element being adapted in o-ne position only 'of adjustment to provideseparation of said parts transversely to the axis of said element, means supported on said lock element and movable with respect thereto for controlling theseparation of said parts, one of said lock members being fixedly secured to a support, andthe other ofsaid lock fmembers being pivotally, secured to anopposed 3; support.

.member and o-peratively engaging said part of the I other lock member in the movement thereof, said l6; A combination lock of the character de scribed comprising two relatively movable lock members, a lock element movably supported in and retained against displacement from one, member, the other member being movable into the path of movement; of said element and en-- r justable' characterizeddiscs-supported on said element, and cooperative means betweenthe'discs and element controlling movement of said eleof s'aidimembersp p l7. Ina combinationlock mechanism employtrolling separation of the parts, a lock pin supe a'locked to an unlocked position except upon proper setting of said disc's, said pin engaging the other of said parts. when in locked position to retain the-parts againstseparation, andsaid pin having a recessed portion brought into reg istering alinement with the last mentioned part: in the movementof the pin into unlocked positionto provide separation of said parts,

provide separation ing two lock parts and combination discs conported in one part and forming an axis about [which said discsare rotated, means on i the pin Qpreventing movement thereof in said parts from i JACK EBERL 

